Evolution Of Warning Signage

By Author: steve joseph
Total Articles: 10
Comment this article

The earliest warning signs in UK were not really warning signs but milestones showing the distance to the main place on the road. Some old stone signs also show warning signs of horse carriage backing up etc. these were inscribed on the stone and were not very visible as they were not painted in some striking colour and put up on poles.
The first warning signs in UK came with the advent of motor vehicles when three or four universal traffic signs were created that were accepted by most European nations as standard warning signs. These were pictorial signs for an impending Bump, Curve, Intersection and Railway Crossing that the road is leading to. These signs were not very strikingly visible but in the early 20th century when the vehicle speed was very low, these served the purpose. As the vehicle speeds increased, the warning signs used in UK also changed in appearance and could be read from a distance in a faster moving vehicle.
There are many kinds of warning signs in UK that are used on roads, in factories, in laboratories, near schools and parks where children could be playing, near hospitals, near animal ...
... and nature reserves, at construction sites, at refineries, mines and radioactive sites, at places which are designated to be high security and many more. In Europe the warning signs became more standardized when most countries in Europe accepted this standardized signage after the Vienna Convention in 1968 and warning signs in UK were similar as in other European countries.
Most of these warning signs in UK are put by the government bodies such as the municipality or the county board itself and private citizens are not expected to buy warning signs in UK for general use. Only in case the danger is posed on private property or public access of private property do common people have to buy warning signs in UK and display them prominently where they can be seen by anyone who passes by and takes notice of the imminent danger that is shown in the warning signs.
Common warning signs in UK that are meant to alert people strongly against potential danger have flashing lights as these can draw the attention of the passerby more than just a plain sign. In private property or industry or private enterprise where warning signs have to be put up by private people are required to buy warning signs in UK from reliable sources so that the standardized warning signs are displayed. In any other case there is no need to buy warning signs in UK

Steve Joseph is the author of this article. For further details about Warning signs UK and Signs for business safetyPlease visit the website.